Comments: The only change from last week is that Shane Victorino is no longer in the top three outfielders, having been passed up by Andre Ethier. I hope the NL can survive with only four starters from the Phillies. Well, five, assuming Charlie Manuel gives Halladay the nod over Ubaldo Jimenez.

The All Star Game does not “approach” the irrelevant. It transcends it.
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Of course MLB has everything backasswards again. The fans, who do matter, vote for who gets to participate in an irrelevant game. The sportswriters, who don’t matter, get to decide who goes into the Hall of Fame. Turn it around. Let the useless factotums of the crumbling fourth estate vote for the All Star Teams. Let the working players nominate for the Hall and let the fans vote in or reject the nominees. That’ll set the universe in balance and stop the second law of thermodynamics dead in its tracks.

What I hate most is that people vote based on the current season, and don’t take the second half of last season into account, penalizing slow starts who end strong, and rewarding hot starters who flame out.

J Rose, HFA for World Series was never based on who had a better record, it used to just switch every year, which is also silly.
If they don’t base it on a team’s record, which they didn’t, does it really matter how they do it?

Hallady was wrongly awarded the All Star start LAST year; if it happens again this year I might just upchuck. Considering Cholly is the manager, though, I can see it.
Oh, and Placido Polanco the NL starter at third base? Major joke. And no, I have nothing against the Phillies. I’ve even rooted for them in the Series for the past two years.

“The fans, who do matter, vote for who gets to participate in an irrelevant game.”
In the last AS game voting review, Burrell was 4th in voting for DH. He’s not actually in BB as we speak, owing mostly to the .202 and 2 HRs. Nothing even close to resembling an important decision should be decided by fans.

Is the caller there? Oh, I can comment again. (Ahem) Only 3 Yankees, let’s go New Yorkers we all know you have 17 e-mail addresses each. Sign up Uncle Joe in Canarsie for gmail.
In unrelated news, Al and Tipper Gore are separating, seems Tipper got tired of Al yelling “Turn the A/C down to 60, it’s too damn hot in here”. Try the veal.

What? How long was Manny in the running last year even though he was suspended for PED’s? The problem is in reverse of what you stated; if anything it’s the historical performance that takes precedence over a half seasons worth of far above average performance.

If Derek Jeter had to have Tommy John surgery in spring training and didn’t play one game before the ASG, his ass would still be within spitting distance of winning a roster spot.

How can anyone even be surprised anymore when Player X is named to the team despite a.) having a shitty year, b.) being on the DL most of the season or c.) not even in baseball (i.e. Burrell)? It’s a popularity contest, a la American Idol, and when you have kids (and adults with the minds of kids, as Luis pointed out) voting, these are the kind of results you’re gonna get.

Morneau still might not be leading but his vote total jumped considerably. I don’t think it’s crazy to imagine that he beats out Teixeira before the end. Or even next week.
The bigger crime is Tulo coming third at SS with Rollins receiving twice as many votes. What does he have to do to be a starting all star? Go on the DL? Be wildly overrated by virtue of having a ring?

“Remember folks: treat this like a Chicago election: vote early, vote often!”
How about adding “If you are from Broward County, FL, ask for help with those punch card ballots! No hanging chads allowed!”

Actually, I’ve quite enjoyed the voting foibles of that part of the state–have had loads of fun for 10 years poking fun at Broward County residents not being able to use punch card ballots without accidentally voting for Pat Buchanon vice drunk baseball fans having no problem using punch cards to vote for the AS game.
As for driving in your part of the state, it’s no worse than my hometown & I do have the combat medals from both!